“Go for it, while you can. I know you have it in you. And I can’t promise you’ll get everything you want, but I can promise nothing will change if you don’t try.”
― J.M. Darhower, Sempre
I recently read somewhere that February 10th is a turning point in resolutions. After that, the majority are pretty much abandoned. I don’t know how you are doing with yours, if you made any, but mine hit a few bumps.
In my New Year’s Eve post, I resolved that I would do one thing each week toward my goal of getting an agent and getting my book published. Of course, achieving that goal is like trying to find lightning, captivate it, and entice it into a jar. But that is my resolution, and I am still working on it. Take that, February 10th.
And working on it has led to this observation: I have decided that the whole process of querying an agent is a lot like on-line dating. You create a profile, in this case a query letter, intended to show who you are (your book) in such a way that an agent falls in love …ok..ok.. maybe not love yet…but so they are intrigued enough to date you.
Additional individual requirements may vary by dating service…I mean literary agency and agent. For some you send, three, or five or ten pages of your book…for some a synopsis, for some both. If enticed into getting to know your book better, you may get asked for chapters, a real date. If the attraction grows, then, the whole manuscript. And if love blooms…a proposal, or a contract. But remember to be published, not only does your agent have to fall in love with your book, s/he has to think they can make a publisher fall in love as well….(wedding bells…lightning striking twice!)
But that is my resolution and the only guarantee of failure is not to try! So my research says: the best way to encourage the lightening to strike is to get to know your agent. That is the key on the kite. Start on their agency page. Does s/he like English majors, (your genre). If not move on to someone who does. Does s/he like English majors, but prefer brunettes to blonds? So, for example, likes fantasy but really only wants hard science fiction, (that would not be a fit for me.) So first genre and a fit there….but you aren’t done researching yet.
What are his/her specific interests? (Ask their friends as in: Read their blog!) 
Do you write epic fantasy when s/he wants dystopian? Does s/he want a little craziness when you write from a realistic perspective? Does s/he want some darkness, when you are all about coming into the light? No yenta in the world can make a match like that, no matter how hard the fiddler plays! I am also pretty sure that if what you read about them doesn’t entice you, a date is equally unlikely. Ignoring this and adopting a scattershot approach to this Dating Game is like expecting the worst blind date you ever had to work.
So for my update: January: I decided on two agents I wanted to query by the end of the month. (For non-writers, a query is the one page pitch letter, with an intro paragraph tailored to the agent, then description of the new love of his or her life, your book, the three summary paragraphs, moving to an individualized conclusion.) I researched them, read their blogs and started the individual parts of the query letters, started the enticing summary stuff, and almost finished the synopsis one of them wanted. Then intermission – first bump – my husband went to the hospital.
So February: This month I finished the three pithy, tantalizing, irresistible middle paragraphs of my query intended to capture the critical elements of the book, introduce the main protagonists, and the intriguing conflict that they face. (Ok, I am a fantasy person!) These paragraphs are crucial. Not only may they entice the agent to ask for a date, but become the text on the back of a paperback (…or the flyleaf of a hardcover!) that convince someone to buy and read your book. So….I labored over them, writing, editing, rewriting, running them past my friend and writing partner, William Walton, and responding to his critiques as he pushed me on my deadline. (For more about writing partners and William, see his page on this blog)
We also fine-tuned the beginning and ending paragraphs to the agent that seemed most likely to love The Call. This is my opening paragraph:
“Your description on the XYZ Agency web page made me think, miało być, it’s meant to be! A liking for realistic high fantasy, medieval if not English, and a desire for Polish culture: I believe The Call meets your request. An epic fantasy set within a political struggle, laced with Polish words and wisdom, The Call draws on the history and folklore of Poland. Your blog portrays you as offering straight forward representation. That is what I seek.”
So, for the ultimate in holding myself accountable: On Friday, I hit the send button on my query to this agent. He reviews within 3 weeks. So now the music is playing (I can hear the Jeopardy theme: Da dah, Da dah, Da dah dah,…) and I am waiting to see if it really is meant to be. Hopefully, he will ask for a date…and at least to get to know me better..
Cross your fingers for me or say a prayer for me….and if you made a resolution, I hope you are still trying, working away at it, fine tuning it. I am rooting for you, too…and I know you have it in you.
joanneeddy's blog 
Best of luck, you’re in my thoughts. I, myself am in a similar situation. I’ve recently sent out a couple (2 different books actually, since genres are so different). Manuscripts become part of you. I know how you feel.
Ted
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Thanks, Ted! I am so glad you are also querying. Is one of them the series I know from Wordsmiths?
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yes, the first one. (there are 5 books to that series now.
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Great…as you know I love those books! I will send up a prayer for you along with mine. I need to follow up with Vernon…I would love to get the Wordsmiths together again. Please send my best to Roberta.
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I will. I always enjoyed our group. It helped me alot. I’m still uncomfortable with social media, but I’m sure when I have a real product (book) to pitch I won’t feel so narcissistic about promoting myself.
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Good luck, Joanne. It’s a nerve-wracking and crazy business, and you are right, it’s like on-line dating. I hope you find your perfect match! 😀
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Thanks, Diana! When i looked at his description on the agency page, first he loved all the same fantasy books I loved. Then when he asked for epic and medieval fantasy, but requesting multi-cultural I was excited…then to my wonder he said, How about African or Native American OR a Polish culture….I was stunned. So, I have a little hope we could be a match….but lightning has a mind of its own! So we’ll see!
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You sound so excited. I really do hope you hit the jackpot!
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Stay steady…and good ‘dating’.
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Fingers crossed!
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Good luck – I hope you have a date soon. 🙂
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Thanks! Me, too!
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This is a perfect description of finding an agent – Match.com. Well, Joanne it works for lots and lots of people so why shouldn’t it work for you? Sounds like you have done your due diligence and don’t need luck just a good match. I will keep you in my though and prayers that this is the match for you.
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Thanks, Bernadette!
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A lovely description of two areas about which i know absolutely nothing! Three if you count making resolutions! If I ever get close to publishing anything I now know how to attack it!
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It’s definitely the part I have been avoiding. I don’t love marketing, though non-profits have to do it and I can. Selling services to the needy by fund-raising when it’s something I believe it is fine, but the idea of marketing myself is much, much harder, to say the least! So at least this is changing the metaphor!
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It all terrifies me, and I have an MBA in Marketing, albeit 35 years ago! Good luck with it all 😊
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Really good analogy. It seems so time consuming, though. I’m thinking of self-publishing my first book of the series and see if an agent can sell a publisher on the others? Good luck
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Thank you! You might want to check two posts Diana did in her MythsofheMirror blog on self publishing versus small press publishing (by which she has done several series). Lots of wisdom. As you read, my resolution was to use this year to research agents, write and fine tune (as in edit the daylights out of) a good query letter, and see if I could get published in the traditional way. At the same time I am trying to increase my blog traffic, which is really needed regardless of type of publishing. Next year, if that doesn’t work, it will be small presses…and then self-publishing! Sure hoping I am lucky enough to make it happen this year!
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Good plan. I’m sure it will be a great year for you. I will be reading Diane’s blog posts tonight. Thanks
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I should have said she is now going to self publish…so in her two posts she lays out the strong points for each. I found her analysis of both ways very insightful!
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I read those posts and I think I will be self-publishing this mystery book.
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Hope they were helpful!
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Yes, they were and I went to pixy, too. Thanks
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Loved this analogy with dating!
Thanks for enlightening me about some of the process involved in getting a book out there. You made the learning fun 🙂
Ann
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